Podcast: The Montreal Miracle, Canadiens two wins from reaching Stanley Cup Final

Posted on June 19, 2021 by Derek

In the latest podcast on DFlex’s Pushing Buttons, I review the improbable win by the Canadiens last night over the stunned Golden Knights. The Habs came back to win Game Three 3-2 in overtime on ultimate hero Josh Anderson’s winner. His tying goal with 1:55 left in regulation was a gift from Marc-Andre Fleury.

Montreal leads the series two games to one. Can they continue this amazing run behind the red hot Carey Price? He made 43 saves yesterday and gave his severely outplayed team a chance to steal the game in front of 3,500 screaming fans at Bell Centre. Price is having a Patrick Roy postseason. How will Vegas respond?

Plus observations on the awful Vegas power play, Mark Stone and Peter DeBoer’s response to the rare Fleury gaffe. The Montreal penalty kill. And the kid. Cole Caufield. Where can Game 4 of the Lightning and Islanders be found? It took me a while. Can the Islanders again rise up or might this be the last game at Nassau Coliseum? We’ll see.

To listen or subscribe to my podcast, you can click on the above link at Anchor. Or find it on Spotify under DFlex’s Pushing Buttons. Here is the link to the page with all shows listed starting with the Montreal Miracle at the top.

Find DFlex’s Pushing Buttons where podcasts are available including Google and Apple.

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Bolts edge Islanders to quiet The Barn in Game Three

Posted on June 18, 2021 by Derek

The excitement was palpable. The first big game hosted by Nassau Coliseum in 28 years lived up to the hype. With the Islanders competing in the Conference Finals Stanley Cup Semifinals for a second consecutive year outside the bubble, it gave Long Island fans a chance to be heard.

They were into it for Game 3 against the Lightning. The chants were loud at The Barn in Uniondale. The randomness of a packed crowd that was nearly 13,000 strong did their part. However, the Islanders weren’t quite able to deliver in a tough 2-1 home loss to the Bolts. Tampa Bay took back home ice by winning for the second straight time.

Now comes the true test for these scrappy Islanders, who fought back from the same predicament in the previous two rounds to beat Pittsburgh and Boston in six games. Basically, they responded to the challenge by running the table in Games 4-6 against the Penguins and Bruins. Can they do it versus a better team with a championship pedigree? We’ll have a better answer tomorrow night.

For the Isles to have success against the more skilled and equally stingy Lightning in this series rematch, they have to forecheck consistently and get enough traffic on Andrei Vasilevskiy to score the dirty goals they’re accustomed to. It would also help if the Killer Bees Line of Brock Nelson, Anthony Beauvillier and Josh Bailey get going. With the exception of Nelson, both Bailey and Beauvillier have been quiet. Particularly Beauvillier, who found it tough to find space last night against the Lightning defense. He was blanketed.

There were only three goals scored for the second time in three games. But it was the Isles who had the better of it to take Game 1. The Lightning responded by taking Game 2 with a better effort to win 4-2 and tie the series. Last night, they withstood the expected good start from the Islanders, who fed off the crowd. With Vasilevskiy locked in making key saves, it allowed the Bolts to find their footing.

The game’s first goal was created off the doggedness of Blake Coleman. After gaining a step through the neutral zone, the former Devil got a shot on Semyon Varlamov and then outhustled the Isles to a rebound. From a tough angle, he sent a dish across for an open Yanni Gourde, who was able to bury the one-timer past an outstretched Varlamov for the lead. It was the second effort from Coleman that made the scoring play possible. If you’re going to beat the Islanders, you need that extra effort to win these games. It came from the gritty third line.

In the second period, the Islanders began to dictate the terms. Boosted by the Identity Line of Casey Cizikas, Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck, they forechecked effectively. Their hard hat style of physicality and tenacity gets the fans going. They buzzed around the Tampa net for several shifts. It would be a harbinger of things to come. While the second line was kept in check, Mat Barzal created some scoring chances from his superb speed and strong skating. He had a near miss on one shift with his shot whizzing just over the net. Barzal and Leo Komarov were good. The line of Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac struggled for a second consecutive game. Expect Barry Trotz to reinsert Oliver Wahlstrom for Zajac in Game 4. They need his offense.

With the Islanders turning up the heat, they tilted the ice after being outshot 17-10. It was finally a strong shift from the Cizikas line that netted the tying goal. On what was a good cycle down low, they got a break. Under pressure during an extended shift in his zone, surprising Game 2 goal scorer Jan Rutta panicked with the puck. He attempted to tuck it into Vasilevskiy’s pads. However, it was not done well. Instead, the Tampa netminder couldn’t get a handle which allowed the loose puck to get through him for an unpredictable tying Islander goal. Clutterbuck was credited with it. It was not a good play by Rutta. Given how well Vasilevskiy was playing, it was probably the only way the Isles could’ve scored.

With the building rocking, the momentum was short lived. An Adam Pelech interference minor penalty gave the dangerous Bolts a power play with over two minutes left in the second period. Although they didn’t convert, the skilled Lightning kept moving the puck around until it came to Brayden Point in the slot. As the power play expired, he was able to get off a tough shot while taking a crosscheck. The shot beat Varlamov, who was dealing with Anthony Cirelli after Andy Greene shoved him into the crease from behind. He didn’t make contact. Even if he had, Point’s latest clutch goal probably would’ve been held up. Had Greene not pushed Cirelli, Varlamov had a chance to make the save. Instead, the puck squeaked through with 17.3 seconds remaining. A crusher.

That’s who Point is. He scores clutch goals. He did it during the Bolts’ run to their second Cup last summer. That included overtime winners against the Blue Jackets and Islanders, finishing both off. How good is he? Point scored for the sixth consecutive postseason game. The last player to accomplish that was Martin Havlat with Ottawa during the 2006. It’s Point who leads the ultra talented Lightning in goals. He gets it done. I’ve always been a big fan of his. A tremendous two-way pivot who is good at even strength, the power play and can kill penalties. He also wins face-offs. He remains a bit overlooked due to Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos.

The good news for the Islanders is they still had the third period to rally. They’ve proven they are capable of coming from behind this postseason. The big tying goals they scored in huge wins over the Pens and Bruins are proof. Facing the defending champs down a goal, it wasn’t as easy to get the looks needed to beat the unflappable Vasilevskiy. There’s a reason he’s up for another Vezina along with finalists Marc-Andre Fleury and Philipp Grubauer. Even though he didn’t have to stand on his head, Vasilevskiy made the big stops to help the Lightning protect the lead.

There were a few close calls. Barzal had one and Komarov got two good opportunities, but wasn’t able to finish. One was set up by Jordan Eberle, who’s been quiet so far. He will need to find twine soon. Believe it or not, Greene had two chances in tight. But the veteran defenseman was turned away by Vasilevskiy and then missed high. There weren’t enough pucks on the right Islander sticks.

With the crowd urging them on, they couldn’t quite draw even. The Lightning also have a good defensive structure. They bent, but didn’t break. In particular, Ryan McDonagh had a strong game. He was very good at breaking up plays in his end and in the neutral zone. We even saw flashes of the old McDonagh, who pinched in and went for the jugular with a high tester on Varlamov that he coolly gloved. The former Ranger has been very good this playoffs. He’s played with an edge and done a good job at five-on-five to relieve pressure from Victor Hedman.

A Kucherov forecheck bothered the Islanders, who were in full scramble mode to get Varlamov off for the extra attacker. You never had a sense the Isles would tie it. That’s how solid Tampa was at protecting a one-goal lead. They didn’t give them much. It was that gritty style that won them the Cup last year. While it’s easy to highlight the stars who we all know, it was the attention to detail that won this game. They matched the Isles’ work ethic and quieted the crowd. No small feat. That’s why they’re defending champs.

It’ll take a lot more from the Islanders to even the series. We know the fans will be going nuts. They will try to will their heroes to a Game 4 victory like they did the previous rounds. The atmosphere at Nassau Coliseum is like that of a soccer game. With random chants and stuff you don’t see in other arenas. That is a credit to the Islander fan. Even if there are some bandwagon fans like just about every team, they’re very loud and are truly a factor. You wonder though if that even affects the Lightning. They are tough. It will not be easy.

For the Islanders to tie the series and possibly avoid playing the last game at The Barn, they need better performances from Beauvillier, Bailey and Palmieri. Pageau is playing banged up. He still looked okay yesterday. However, he’s a key shooter and reliable face-off guy who can be a factor. We know he goes to the net and can get the dirty goals. If Wahlstrom returns tomorrow, he’ll replace Zajac on that third line with Palmieri. Wahlstrom is a great shooter who can add a weapon to the power play. The Isles can use his offense. They’ll also need Barzal to continue to hit the score sheet. When he does, they’re pretty successful.

If there’s an Achilles heel, it’s that the defense doesn’t contribute enough offense. Ryan Pulock scored his first goal of the playoffs in Game One. That turned out to be the game-winner. Pulock has a good shot and has provided offense before. But he hasn’t been as consistent. Nick Leddy is a good skating D who can get involved. But it’s usually on passing. Scott Mayfield can shoot the puck if he has time. He can hit the net. Pelech is a shutdown D whose primary role is to check opposing scorers. He isn’t accurate from the point. Noah Dobson is probably the future of the Islanders’ blue line offense. He’s picked up some assists, but isn’t good defensively. He was beat by Coleman on the Goodrow goal. Greene is a defensive defenseman who blocks shots. It’s a bonus if he creates any offense.

Where as the Islanders don’t have that one offensive weapon from the back end, the Bolts boast the imposing Hedman, who’s put up most of his points on the power play. A superb skater who can be counted on for big minutes at five-on-five, power play and penalty kill, the former Norris winner and Conn Smythe winner is a player to be reckoned with. He’s not 100 percent. But he is a gamer. McDonagh doesn’t put up as much offense anymore. But he still pinches effectively and can contribute. Mikhail Sergachev hasn’t done much offensively despite being a superb skater. If he gets going, it could be lights out. Cernak and Rutta are not asked to contribute offensively. But you already have seen Rutta score a big goal in this series. David Savard was a good pickup from Columbus due to his penchant for blocking shots

Goaltending hasn’t been an issue. Varlamov has performed well. But he’s matched up against Vasilevskiy. He’ll probably have to steal a game in order for the Islanders to pull the upset. You have two of the game’s best coaches in Barry Trotz and Jon Cooper. Trotz will make adjustments for Game 4. Cooper is good at the chess match. He definitely has the pulse of his team.

Game 4 should be interesting. Especially with the Isles in the same predicament as the prior two rounds. Can they rise up and do it again? We shall see.

As for other hockey related news, Rod Brind’Amour won the Jack Adams as Coach of the Year after re-signing with the Hurricanes. It’s where he wants to be. A well deserved honor for one of the game’s good guys. More awards will continue to be revealed. The big ones likely coming next week.

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The Final Four: Awful Officiating a factor in Lightning Game 2 Win over Islanders, Remembering Amirante Anthem in ’94, Rangers still haven’t made Gallant hire official

Posted on June 16, 2021 by Derek

Let’s start off this post by recognizing what’s going on. The Stanley Cup Semifinals have begun. Or the Final Four. Personally, I prefer the latter. It doesn’t matter that it’s been used for the NCAA Basketball Tournament forever. It just sounds better. I can’t get used to the new name due to the crossover without conferences. It’s strange not to have a Conference Finals. There. I said it.

So far, three games have been played. Two between the Islanders and Lightning. One featuring the Canadiens and Golden Knights. Vegas took the opening game against the underdog Habs without a problem. They got contributions from their active D with both Shea Theodore and Nick Holden (ahem) scoring. William Karlsson and that line featuring Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault continuing to look good. Plus the brilliance of Marc-Andre Fleury. He is amazing. Thirty-six and still playing like he’s in his prime. A Conn Smythe candidate for sure. Wouldn’t it be something if he finally won the Vezina? He’s up against Andrei Vasilevskiy and Philipp Grubauer. Vasilevskiy is the favorite.

What can Montreal do tonight for a response? Well, it could be a different lineup with Jeff Petry possible along with Jon Merrill. Petry would help the back end. Carey Price can’t just do it by himself. He needs help. Not just from Nick Suzuki, Tyler Toffoli and Cole Caufield. We’ll see who steps up.

The Islanders were the better team in Game 1. They were battle tested and took it to the defending champs to gain the split needed to gain home ice. In Game 2, the Lightning fought back by showing more urgency to prevail 4-2. Unfortunately, the officiating was a factor. Not the positive kind. The refs were equally bad for both sides. With the Lightning up a goal from Brayden Point, they got it wrong when Point bumped into Semyon Varlamov. Replays clearly showed that the Bolts’ top center was shoved from behind by Adam Pelech. Varlamov was a dead duck. Of course, Point was penalized for goalie interference. Predictably, Brock Nelson tied the game on the gift power play. That wasn’t all.

In the second period, you had a great stretch pass from Victor Hedman to game breaker Nikita Kucherov. Drawing two Isles including Mat Barzal, he made a perfect feed for an Ondrej Palat go-ahead goal. However, replays showed that the Lightning had too many men on the ice. When the TV replays show seven skaters, that’s brutal. How did the linesmen miss it? Of course, Barry Trotz went ballistic twice having some choice words for the officials. It was one of the worst officiated playoff games. You can’t miss that and get the interference penalty wrong. Two goals happened due to NHL incompetence. It shouldn’t happen. It’s embarrassing for the sport.

Good thing the Bolts put the game away in the third period. Both defensemen Jan Rutta and Hedman scored. Rutta with a point blast from Barclay Goodrow through a Josh Bailey screen. Hedman on the power play thanks to a great Kucherov pass through the seam. Kucherov finished with three assists. He’s a magician with the puck. Scary on the power play with potent weapons Hedman, Point and Steven Stamkos. The Isles took too many penalties. The Bolts went 1-for-5.

A Barzal goal late made it interesting. It was a good follow-up by the Islanders’ first center. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough. The Lightning defended well against the six-on-five to kill off the final three minutes for the win to square the series. There were some pleasantries exchanged at the conclusion. Travis Zajac took down Anthony Cirelli. He went down awkwardly. You had Matt Martin trying to get at Goodrow due to a hit he delivered in the third on Barzal. Pat Maroon challenged the Islanders by basically trolling them. He fought Martin during the game in what was a more heated contest. The Bolts had to respond by being more physically engaged. They proved why they’re the rating champs. This is a rematch for a reason. Now, the series shifts to The Barn in Nassau County. That place will be rocking for Games 3 and 4 in Uniondale. Thursday night is going to be interesting.

As much as it was about the refs last night, Vasilevskiy still came up big by robbing the dangerous Anthony Beauvillier before the second period expired. On a weird misdirection play off a face-off, the puck came to Beauvillier with under two seconds left. He let go of a good wrist shot that Vasilevskiy was in perfect position to pad away. That was the turning point. Had Beauvillier scored, it’s a tie hockey game headed to the third. Instead, the game’s best goalie delivered. It was much better than Game 1 when he let in a bad goal to Ryan Pulock. That actually proved to be the game-winner with Point getting a late tally with Vasilevskiy on the bench.

Goaltending is crucial in this series. After Varlamov went to the locker room to be checked on for concussion protocol, Ilya Sorokin did a great job relieving him by playing poised in net. In a tough circumstance, he made key stops to keep the game tied at one after a period. Varlamov was okay and returned for the rest of the game. He played well following the break. But ultimately, it wasn’t enough against a better Lightning. It’s his series unless there’s a slip up. We know it’s Vasilevskiy for the Bolts.

Earlier this weekend, some fans recalled the ’94 Stanley Cup championship team. Astonishing to think it’s now been 27 years since the Rangers won Lord Stanley. Unfortunately, they’re halfway to another 54 years. Something no Blueshirt fan wants to acknowledge. We don’t really want it “to last a lifetime,” like Sam Rosen’s memorable call on MSG. We’re lucky that local networks could still broadcast those big games that far into the Playoffs. Those days are long gone. What lasts is the memory which includes those memorable calls from Rosen and John Davidson on TV. Of course, Howie Rose best known for the “Matteau, Matteau, Matteau,” call in Game 7 against the Devils. Marv Albert had the call on WFAN in New York. It’s crazy to think he’s hanging up the mic after TNT wraps up its NBA Playoffs coverage. He’s been the voice of so many generations forever. I met him once in the city when I was working my old job out of college. It was brief as he headed into Starbucks near his luxurious apartment on Columbus Avenue. That was cool. I’m glad I’ve gotten to talk to his son Kenny a few times at MSG. He’s great. It’s nice to see him doing well.

As much as we all make a huge deal out of June 14, 1994, I feel like John Amirante flies under the radar. I know he’s been gone a few years already, but the great national anthem singer is best remembered for turning it up several notches when the electric atmosphere drowned out his anthem. Yet you could still hear him belt it out. I always loved the energy and passion he had whenever he performed. Madison Square Garden was always better with Amirante there. Nothing compares.

Rosen summed it up best. When it was over, he talked about how long he’s been coming to that building. To quote him directly, “I have never seen anything like it.” Perfectly said. It best describes what that night was like. I can only imagine what those fans were feeling inside. I know how we felt watching it on MSG. The nerves were so intense. So much anxiety. What a moment. Thank God they won. Who knows what we’d be talking about now.

One of the things I love about that era were the T-shirts and hats. They truly are a unique collector’s item. Sure. We all bought them and wore them proudly. But the design for the shirts and caps were perfect. Justin was smart enough to get an extra Cup T-shirt which is still in great condition. Along with the memorable, “Oh Baby,” VHS Rangers Stanley Cup video, it’s quite the items to have. I bought the Stanley Cup Program off eBay. I also have the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals one which I purchased at Game Three. If only they’d won that night. Speaking of Amirante, here’s how he sounded for the memorable 2014 Eastern Conference Finals Game 6 clincher against the Canadiens.

It was a different crowd. We were still loud. It just doesn’t measure up to the chaos of Game 7 on 6/14/94. There’s something about Amirante. His anthems were great. I smile when I see him pull out and wave the Let’s Go Rangers rally towel. Of course, they’ve been saved. I wonder how different it would be had they won it in ’14. It would’ve been fitting. Twenty years later. It was a great run. Many of us still feel that team should’ve won. It just didn’t happen. I guess it wasn’t meant to be. I still don’t like Alec Martinez. But I respect him as a player. I wish they could’ve won that Cup with Henrik Lundqvist. So close. I’m thankful for those teams. They feel like a lot longer when you consider where the current state of the franchise is. It’s headed in the right direction. It just takes time.

As far as Gerard Gallant goes, we are still patiently waiting for the Rangers to make it official. Maybe they want to do it on a quieter day. Who knows. There’s so much to do once Gallant is announced. It all is too much to think about right now. Let Chris Drury worry about it. There really is no news to report. Adam Fox is up for the Norris. It’ll be revealed if he won next week. I like that they’re revealing award winners during the playoffs. It’s better than some cheesy award show.

UPDATE: They must’ve heard me. Gerard Gallant now Official.

It’s not surprising that much of what we already knew was confirmed about David Quinn. He tried too hard to please everyone. Eventually, his style led to a division with the veterans. We know who they are. They better get used to what Gallant wants this Fall. He will not treat them like college kids. But as equals. Jaromir Jagr praised the move. He feels it’s a good hire and spoke about how he enjoyed playing for him in Florida. Jagr put up 66 points and finished fourth for the Hart in his 40’s. Amazing. He played with Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau. Both established stars now. He indicated that Gallant being a successful former player for the Red Wings helped him understand his players. He had a good career. He also will bench anyone if they’re not performing. But it’s forgotten the next game. Jagr emphasized that Gallant prefers not to tweak his lines too much. That should be better for team chemistry.

All of this doesn’t matter at the moment. We will have to remain patient. If the last 16 months have taught us anything, it’s that you have to be. It’s nice to see things opening up and more fans attending games. I couldn’t do it. Maybe if it’s back to a real normal. God bless those who do. Until next time.

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Rangers hire Gallant as new head coach

Posted on June 14, 2021 by Derek

The New York Rangers have made it official by hiring Gerard Gallant as their new head coach. He becomes the 36th coach in franchise history.

A more proven coach who’s guided both the Panthers and Golden Knights to the postseason, the 57-year old Gallant was the top candidate to succeed David Quinn. Gallant got his coaching start with the Blue Jackets. It took him eight years to get another opportunity in Florida. In ’15-16, he guided the Panthers to first in the Atlantic Division with a 47-26-9 record. However, they were eliminated by the Islanders in the first round. After only 11 games the following season, he was unceremoniously fired. A perplexing move.

One year later, Gallant landed on his feet by becoming the first ever coach of the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. Under him, they became a close knit unit that came together. In their inaugural season of ’17-18, Gallant led the Knights to a stunning 51-24-7 record to win the Pacific Division. That earned him the Jack Adams Award as Coach of The Year. Even better, Vegas reached the 2018 Stanley Cup Final in their first year of existence. They lost to the Capitals in five games.

After another successful year, Gallant saw his team blow Game Seven to the Sharks in crushing fashion in a wild first round. San Jose scored four times on a five-minute major. Even though Vegas forced overtime, they lost in sudden death. It was a bitter disappointment. During Year Three, the Knights were up and down in the first half of ’19-20. Following a fourth straight loss, Gallant was fired and replaced by former San Jose rival coach Peter DeBoer. In 213 games as Vegas coach, Gallant went 118-75-20.

He most recently coached Team Canada to the gold medal at the World Championships. After having a good first interview with the Rangers, Gallant had his second interview via Zoom Conference. The only other candidate they interviewed twice was former Coyotes’ bench boss Rick Tocchet. The only surprise is they didn’t wait to see what’s going on with Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour. He just completed his third season and is up for a new contract following their second round elimination to the Lightning.

The news of the Gallant hiring came down at 5 PM. Larry Brooks of the NY Post broke the story. He’s been pretty accurate recently.

The Rangers have yet to make an official announcement on Twitter. It’ll probably come tomorrow. Oddly enough, the Gallant hire comes on the 27th Anniversary of their last Stanley Cup. Hard to believe they’re halfway to 54 years. They better hope it doesn’t last a lifetime to quote Sam Rosen.

This is a good move that should change the way the Rangers play. Gallant is a no nonsense coach who expects a lot. He emphasizes a hard forecheck. Something that’s needed. There should be more defensive structure and accountability. I’m curious to see who Gallant hires as his assistants. Only Benoit Allaire was retained as goalie coach.

Will the franchise change the roster to become tougher? It would seem likely considering how easy they were to play against. Look no further than the three Islanders games that saw them outclassed. Ironically, the Islanders are back in the Final 4 and lead the Lightning one game to none. Maddening. Imagine if they win the Cup in the last year of playing at Nassau Coliseum. Yikes.

What happens next won’t be until the Stanley Cup Playoffs conclude. The off-season promises to be busy. Between the Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft, NHL Draft and free agency, it’ll be an action packed summer.

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Springtime thoughts – playoffs, draft and otherwise

Posted on June 12, 2021 by hasan4978
Reliving Game 7 of the 2003 Stanley Cup Final, the Devils' defining moment – The Athletic

We say this a lot about things as we get older, but I can’t believe it’s been eighteen years since I was at Game 7 of the Devils’ most recent Stanley Cup championship against the Ducks. Besides the actual game and postgame celebration itself, the thrill when I heard the pre-game scratches and realized fan favorite Ken Daneyko was not among them in what would turn out to be his final NHL game, those thundersticks and trying to get pictures with my box camera all throughout (remember those?), what I remember vividly is dragging myself to the game flu/bronchitis-ridden. My parents were hemming and hawing with me on not going but despite my ill state and the Devils’ tradition of success over the previous decade, I said something pretty clear-minded to the effect of – it might be another hundred years before we get a Game 7 at home for the Cup, I can’t miss out on this.

Obviously I haven’t had the chance to experience a championship since then for any of my sports teams (in-person or otherwise), rendering my decision to gut it out that night the correct one. I don’t want to think about how I would look back on that night if we’d somehow lost, or even if I had just taken the path of least resistance and missed out on a potentially once-in-a-lifetime moment because of being in a sickbed. After the events of the last year plus I’m glad that situation happened in 2003 and not 2021, because at this point going anywhere the slightest bit under the weather wouldn’t even be allowed.

Which also leads me to what was actually a bigger surprise, realizing that the anniversary of a Cup win in Game 7 of a normal playoffs was three days ago, while we were still finishing the second round of the playoffs this year. A reminder that while things are speeding back to normal, we aren’t quite there yet. Buildings are more packed but for the most part not sold out. I haven’t even been to a game of any kind – hockey, baseball or football – since a few days before the country stopped last March. It didn’t seem worth it for the Devils this year, all things considered, both because of ambiance and the team’s current position in the standings. I may wind up going to a Met game sooner or later in the next few months but despite being eligible to buy tickets because I’ve been vaccinated, that still has its own issues atm – re: long subway rides and mask-wearing still being necessary on them in the dead of summer.

By the same token, I don’t want to wait until October or whenever next season winds up beginning to go to a game of any kind now that I’m more or less getting back to normal everywhere else. Being able to go inside most places without a mask in New Jersey felt like almost as big a milestone as being vaccinated. It still remains to be seen how much this pandemic will have changed our lives forever. Hopefully it’ll mean eliminating long commutes for people and fewer people going to work and school while sick. There can be some good that comes out of this, if people and businesses allow it.

It will probably take till October for me to really get back into hockey in any case. I didn’t even remember when the draft lottery was until I started seeing Tweets on it the day before. Although I did wind up watching it on my phone while enjoying a nice night at the park, I wasn’t super invested emotionally, although I was kind of happy we stayed at pick #4…partly cause winning another lotto would have been a bit embarrassing at this point, and partly for the realistic chance we wind up getting Jack Hughes’ brother Luke. Unlike previous lottos, this one sprang up no real surprises this year, only flip-flopping Seattle and Anaheim one spot.

As far as the playoffs themselves, I obviously haven’t been emotionally invested in them either, although the Isles’ second straight run to the Conference Finals was a bit annoying in part because the pick we acquired for them plummeted to the bottom of the first round after they beat the Penguins and Bruins in succession to earn a rematch with the Lightning in the Conference Finals. Or just the semifinals, whatever they’re calling it this year since we have non-traditional divisions. Montreal, the worst team in the playoffs and who probably wouldn’t have even made a traditional playoff is also in the last four of this year’s postseason. We see Cinderella runs every year in the spring, but this one was practically baked in with how weak the North division was combined with the Leafs’ propensity for choking. And once again the NHL’s division-laden postseason led to two of the five best teams in the league (arguably the two best in this case) meeting before the third round of the playoffs, although Vegas wound up faux sweeping the Avs after dropping the first two of their showdown series. For all the Avs’ hype they haven’t taken that next step or even won a tough postseason series yet.

I look all over the postseason and I see prominent ex-Devils everywhere, which makes this postseason more annoying. Particularly on Long Island, which is Devils south with ex-president and GM Lou Lamoriello bringing in former Devils Kyle Palmieri, Travis Zajac and Andy Greene to supplement their playoff runs the last two years. I’m not even gonna count Cory Schneider who was once a big acquisition here, but is now just a bit passenger there. I want to root for Zajac and Greene to do well since this might be their last, best chance for a title but it’s just too freaking painful to even see them in those uniforms.

Greene Reunited with Palmieri and Zajac

I’ve said this before, but it’s worth reiterating – I now know exactly what Derek was going through when the Lightning became Rangers south a few years ago. It’s quite similar, seeing a bunch of fan favorites lead a quasi-rival to success. If anything the Isles are more of a daily rival to us than the Lightning to the Rangers, on the other hand the Lightning actually beat the Rangers in the Conference Finals with some of the ex-Ranger contingent. Now that the position of the first round pick is no longer a major factor, I’m still quite conflicted whether I want to see the Isles win or not. Apart from selfish reasons, having the Isles win a championship would only complicate things for us fanwise even more in the next generation. We already have a handicap going against the Rangers in the same market but were helped in the last generation by the Isles running in place while we won consistently. Now having the Isles win on their way into a new building while we still run in place makes it harder to keep building the fanbase for the next generation.

Still, Greene and Zajac were loyal soldiers for a long time, and both are really at the end of their careers. I would be happy on some level if they won, no matter the uniform. Palmieri has some time left in his career, so I’m not as invested in him winning. Especially after he turned full heel in a late-season matchup with us and started going after our players for no apparent reason. There’s also the matter of ex-Devils on other teams in the postseason. Although Blake Coleman got his Cup last year with Tampa, he’s always worth rooting for.

And then there’s ex-coach Pete DeBoer with Vegas. Might we get the Finals matchup of DeBoer versus former key players Greene/Zajac and his former boss, who once fired him over Christmas break? For the issues I had with DeBoer after 2012, he was definitely just in the wrong place at the wrong time toward the end here, and clearly there were more issues with the organization than any coach was going to solve. He was always a solid coach for a vet team, and a good man who deserved more chances to win, which he’s gotten in San Jose and now Vegas. Amazingly, this year will be the fifth time in nine seasons DeBoer’s reached the last four of the Stanley Cup playoffs…with three different teams. Twice he’s been to the Stanley Cup Final and both times came within two games of the Cup, and his team is favored to beat the Habs (the only team without a big ex-Devil connection although one-time prospect Jon Merrill is on the roster as a depth d-man). Maybe third time can be the charm for ol’ Pete? I wouldn’t be against that.

It just occurred to me without the traditional conferences will they have the Prince of Wales and Campbell Conference trophy presentations this year? Perhaps not, although it would be momentarily hilarious to see Montreal get the Campbell Conference bowl. Also, having no Doc Emrick for the playoffs this year makes it even harder to listen to. The closest I’m gonna get to listening to one of my current or former announcers is Steve Cangialosi doing EURO2021 games, which coincidentally is happening now since he’s doing the Wales-Switzerland game on ESPN. There’s always PK Subban doing ESPN studio work during the playoffs if you wish, though I almost look at him at this point as more of a media personality than a Devil. It would probably help if he or the team could get something accomplished during his tenure here. Still, he’s a good guy who deserves the King Clancy for his charitable work, and we could do far worse than have him as a representative for the franchise at this point.

Hopefully things will get better soon and I can be more invested in the playoffs (and less invested in the draft) when we’re a part of them again.

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The NHL Semifinals: Islanders face Lightning in rematch, Canadiens heavy underdogs versus Golden Knights, Thoughts on Avalanche and Bruins, Fox up for Norris

Posted on June 11, 2021 by Derek

Twenty-four hours apart, the final two teams of the NHL Semifinals finished off their second round series by closing out Game Six at home. With both the Islanders and Golden Knights taking care of business to prevent Game Seven in enemy territory, the Final 4 is all set.

It’ll feature the Islanders again challenging the defending champion Lightning on one side. Even better, home ice will matter. The Bolts are the higher seed and have the luxury of a deciding seventh game in Tampa. However, the Islanders host Games 3-4 and 6 (if necessary) at Nassau Coliseum. The Barn has rocked this postseason by hosting closeout games against the Pens and Bruins. The atmosphere was raucous. You better believe the Islanders want to go out with a bang in its final season in Uniondale. It should be interesting.

On the flip side, it’ll be a David versus Goliath match-up featuring the heavy underdog Canadiens looking to continue their magical run against the very formidable Golden Knights. While the Habs made quick work of the Jets following the four-game suspension of Mark Scheifele for his foolish hit that injured Jake Evans, Vegas showed how tough they truly are by digging out of a 2-0 hole by winning four consecutive games to eliminate the Avalanche in six. It was a heck of a series. The difference was the superior depth and grit of Vegas. Both the Knights and Lightning are back in the Final 4 for a second straight year. Will we get a potential heavyweight match-up between Vegas and Tampa for the Stanley Cup? Who knows.

It’s very hard to predict what will happen. Conventional wisdom says the Lightning and Golden Knights will advance and play for Lord Stanley. However, you can’t underestimate how well the Islanders are playing. Especially being a four line team who boast three scoring lines along with shutdown center Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who paces them in scoring while getting it done against Patrice Bergeron. Ditto for the Cinderella Canadiens, who have been carried by Carey Price. He’s having a Patrick Roy like playoffs. Think ’93. The offense has mostly come from the top line and the veteran laden fourth line. They’ll need more from key cogs Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson to pull it off.

Keys to beating the Lightning. It’s simple. Stay out of the box. The Lightning 🌩 boast the best power play. They’re lethal. With leading scorer Nikita Kucherov not missing a beat with 18 points, Steven Stamkos in his office, Victor Hedman running the point, Brayden Point in the slot and Alex Killorn again raising his level, they are scary. As Carolina found out in the momentum turning Game Four that saw them blow a 4-2 lead due to penalties, you cannot put Tampa on the man-advantage. Enter at your own risk.

If they can play them at five-on-five, the Islanders have a chance. Barry Trotz is a mastermind when it comes to game planning and making key adjustments. He realized against the Bruins that Pageau was the better center to match up versus the Perfection Line. That took pressure off Brock Nelson, who was huge in getting the key insurance marker that wound up as the game-winner in Game Five, and scoring another huge goal in the series clincher. He steps it up along with Anthony Beauvillier and Josh Bailey. It was also crucial that Mat Barzal got it going. His huge goals and big assists helped turn the series around. Game Four was his coming out party. He was the best player scoring a goal and adding an assist while drawing a penalty on David Krejci due to mixing it up.

What makes them so hard to play against is Trotz’ commitment to the details. In shutdown tandem Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock, he has a strong top pair that he trusts to neutralize opponents’ best scoring lines. You can bet they’ll see a lot of Kucherov and Point. Expect Scott Mayfield to draw the assignment against Stamkos. He did a splendid job shadowing Taylor Hall.

For Trotz, he never gives much away. When asked about who his goalie will be for Game One on Sunday, he only indicated that it’ll be a left catching Russian. The dry humor of the Czar again on full display. Bank on Semyon Varlamov being in net versus Russian counterpart Andrei Vasilevskiy. Varlamov won four of five starts after replacing first round hero Ilya Sorokin. He was splendid in the last two games. Trotz can always make a change if his team needs it. He’s never afraid to roll the dice.

After Team President and GM Lou Lamoriello acquired Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac from the Devils, neither really distinguished themselves in the remainder of the regular season. However, here is Palmieri scoring big goals in the playoffs. He has seven. His hit to Charlie McAvoy post scrum should be reviewed. It was a head shot. Palmieri isn’t dirty. But neither was Scheifele. Zajac has fit in with Palmieri and Pageau on that checking line. He got his first goal the other night and continued to be a reliable checker and penalty killer. One question is what if Oliver Wahlstrom is ready. Knowing Trotz, he’ll stick with what’s worked. If they lose, you’ll see Wahlstrom back in.

Don’t forget the Identity Line of Casey Cizikas, Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck. Cizikas is winning over 60 percent of his face-offs. He’s a key penalty killer and trusted defensive center, who Trotz knows he can put out to protect a lead. Martin and Clutterbuck are the Mighty Ducks’ NHL version of the Bash Brothers. They hit and hit hard. Every check is finished. Clutterbuck leads all players with 66 hits while Martin ranks third with 59. Their physicality has made a difference. Leo Komarov also is up there along with Pulock. That grinding style can wear down opponents.

Aside from the explosiveness of Kucherov, Point, Hedman and Stamkos, the Lightning boast great depth that can make an impact in these big series. Ondrej Palat has been relatively quiet. He is a good player who complements Point and Kucherov well. Both Blake Coleman and Yanni Gourde are solid checking players who like to get dirty in front of the net. Look for both to make life for Varlamov tough. Anthony Cirelli anchors the second line with Stamkos and Killorn. Cirelli is a strong two-way player with good speed. On the blue line, it isn’t only Hedman that must be accounted for. Ryan McDonagh has quietly had a good postseason. He’s played superb in his end stifling opponents with the overlooked Erik Cernak. McDonagh has stepped up his physical game playing with the edge he once did in the Big Apple. Mikhail Sergachev is a strong skating D who can contribute offensively. His defense has improved, but expect the Isles to go after him and Hedman.

The Golden Knights are a handful. As the Avalanche found out the hard way, there’s no quit in Peter DeBoer’s relentless club. They could’ve melted following a tacky call that led to Mikko Rantanen scoring on the power play to beat Vegas in Game Two. They couldn’t crack Philipp Grubauer until the third period of Game Three. The turning point was Jonathan Marchessault banking one off Grubauer to tie the score. The winner came 45 seconds later. That swung the momentum. After taking care of business to even the series, the the Knights again used a third period rally to stun Colorado in Game Five. Goals from Marchessault and Alex Tuch off bad Avalanche turnovers tied the score. In overtime, a Max Pacioretty block on Ryan Graves allowed him to pass for captain Mark Stone, who got into the clear and went high bar on Grubauer to win the game at 50 seconds of sudden death. It was the brilliant play from Stone, whose line shutdown Nathan MacKinnon, that turned the tables. The Avalanche didn’t get enough run support from the secondary players. Aside from Brandon Saad, they didn’t have enough without Nazem Kadri. While MacKinnon picked up two helpers in the 6-3 loss last night, he didn’t score a goal after the Game One blowout. He was held to three assists over the last five.

While Marc-Andre Fleury shined in net with timely saves including his huge stop on Valeri Nichushkin to preserve a 4-3 lead, Grubauer couldn’t prevent Vegas from finishing it off. A goal from William Carrier off a face-off win made it 5-3. Max Pacioretty added the empty netter to seal it. He’s made a big difference. Since returning and scoring in Game Seven to oust the Wild, Pacioretty has eight points in seven games. Along with Stone, Marchessault, Karlsson and Reilly Smith, the deeper Knights are very tough. Especially when you factor in the fourth line and a balanced defe se that features Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore and Alec Martinez. Even Nick Holden has contributed a couple of big goals and a few helpers. The depth they possess should make them very difficult for the Habs to beat.

This is the first Final 4 for Les Habitants since 2014 when they lost in six to the Rangers. This time, Pacioretty is an opponent. The subplot of him facing his former team while former Vegas first round pick Nick Suzuki goes up against the team that drafted him is intriguing. Suzuki anchors the top Canadiens’ line that also includes brilliant newcomer Cole Caufield. The former Badger has four assists including a beauty across for leading scorer Tyler Toffoli that won Game Four in overtime at Bell Centre to sweep Winnipeg. That’s quite a top line. Along with the cohesive checking line of veterans Eric Staal, Corey Perry and Joel Armia, they’ve done the bulk of the scoring. That must change this round. Phil Danault has centered a superb checking line that includes Brendan Gallagher. Gallagher only has four points so far. The Montreal captain must be a factor along with Josh Anderson to have a chance.

In net, we know how well Price has played. Once again, he’s reaffirmed why many consider him one of the best netminders in the NHL. While his regular season numbers have suffered, it’s astonishing how well Price has played since returning after a concussion kept him out. The fact he can deliver the clutch stops gives the Habs a psychological edge. It might explain why they haven’t trailed once during their seven-game win streak. The second longest such streak without trailing in playoff history. Price has always been able to elevate his game come postseason. He’ll have to stand on his head and steal multiple games against Vegas.

The defense hasn’t really done a whole lot offensively. Jeff Petry and Shea Weber aren’t scoring much this Spring. We know Weber logs big minutes and gets the tough assignments along with underrated former Stanley Cup champ Joel Edmundson. Ben Chiarot is asked to play a ton. He’s turnover prone. You better believe the aggressive Knights will look to pounce on any mistakes. Can the Habs hang with the Knights? Only if key players step it up. That includes Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

The thinking is Golden Knights in five. The Islanders force the Lightning to go seven. I haven’t decided who will prevail. You know who I’m pulling for. The prospect of the Isles playing for the Cup is daunting. Go Bolts.

In terms of disappointment, is there anyone that sounded more down than MacKinnon? Following the Game Six second round elimination to the tougher Golden Knights, the Avalanche captain remarked how he’s been in the league eight years and “hadn’t won shit.” It was a very candid observation from a superstar who expects more from himself along with his team. Somehow that led to this ridiculous question from troll Adrian Dater. 🙄

How is this clown allowed to have a press credential? He’s been around a long time. Could he at least try to be professional? The reaction from MacKinnon says it all. I don’t blame him. The truth is Colorado blew it. Costly mistakes in Game Three turned it around. Ditto for Game Five when the Avs fell asleep after leading 2-0. You have to continue to execute in the neutral zone and get pucks deep. Gabriel Landeskog made a bad turnover inside the Vegas zone when his pass was behind Ryan Graves. That allowed the Knights to counter and tie the game on a gorgeous set up from Karlsson to Marchessault. Stone then worked some overtime magic. In a back and forth game Thursday night, the Avalanche couldn’t put the Golden Knights away. Eventually, the deeper and harder forechecking team finished them off.

For Colorado, it comes down to improving the back end and adding more grit. Not having the suspended Kadri hurt. Will they keep him? Too bad Erik Johnson can’t stay healthy as he’s the exact kind of defenseman they could’ve used. What about Jared Bednar? Is his job safe? Or does this team need a change. Would John Tortorella fit? Who knows. Bednar got outcoached by DeBoer.

This key bit of information from Rask, who may have played his last game for the Bruins. The 34-year old wants to stay. Hopefully, he does. Here’s what he played through.

Hockey player. 🏒 It sure explains why Tuukka struggled in the Islanders’ series. Particularly in the last game where two uncharacteristic miscues resulted in costly goals against. Rask has been a great goalie in Boston for a decade. He’s won a Vezina and reached two Stanley Cup Finals as the starter. He’s been a model of consistency and strong in the playoffs over his career. And yet you still have a few knuckleheads who don’t fully appreciate his body of work. I’m glad someone does.

Where was the Boston secondary scoring? Why did Hall turn into a ghost? Of the second line that fared so well in the first round triumph over the Caps, only David Krejci had a decent series. Krejci remains a solid two-way pivot who wins draws and a very good passer. Aside from deciding on Rask and Hall, who both have indicated they want to stay, the Bruins face a tough decision on Krejci.

While Bergeron didn’t quite have the series he wanted, Marchand was superb. He scored big goals including the OT winner in Game 3 from a tough angle. He also scored in Game Five and Six when he was the one Bruin who factored in. The Rat 🐀 remains a top five player among forwards. It’s due to his unique combination of skating, twists and turns, grit, goal scoring and playmaking. He really is the straw that stirs the drink. Along with Pastrnak, who also was very good in the playoffs, they’re the top two Bruins with the older Bergeron third. It’s kind of ridiculous that Trotz’ gripes resulted in Bergeron getting tossed from a few face-offs. Bruce Cassidy was right to stick up for him. He’s one of the best two-way players and very easy to respect.

For the B’s, not having Brandon Carlo really hurt. Once he went down on a clean Clutterbuck hit, it effected the Boston defense. Particularly the penalty kill where they got burned for three power play goals in the disappointing Game Five loss. One which Cassidy went off on the officiating for by referring to the Islanders as the New York Saints. They have a good reputation as one of the league’s least penalized teams. But you have to wonder if part of it is due to who the GM is. The Isles defend well. But you can’t tell me they don’t get away with stuff. It’s again a matter of consistency with the stripes. Something that never happens. Like Groundhog Day.

Finally, Adam Fox was named as a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the season’s best defenseman. The candidates he’s up against are Hedman and Cale Makar. In my opinion, he should win. As he was the best of the trio nominated. My top five:

1. Adam Fox

2. Victor Hedman

3. Shea Theodore

4. Cale Makar

5. Charlie McAvoy

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Podcast: On Islanders/Bruins, Trotz’ Effect, Cassidy fined, Vegas and Colorado

Posted on June 8, 2021 by Derek

The second round has continued to be very good. Heading the top of the list is the Islanders and Bruins. In a wild Game Five, the Islanders held on for a 5-4 win at TD Garden to take a 3-2 series lead. Can they close it out at Nassau Coliseum tomorrow?

I take a closer look at the hard fought series that’s seen the emergence of Mat Barzal. Listen on Spotify.

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Trotz nails what defines playoff hockey, Barzal leads Islanders to Game Four win over Bruins to even compelling series

Posted on June 6, 2021 by Derek

On Saturday, the Islanders tied their second round series at two apiece against the Bruins by defeating them 4-1 before 12,000 loud fans at the old barn off the Meadowbrook Parkway. Mat Barzal scored the game-winner with over seven minutes left in regulation.

The first line center was their best player, leading them to the big Game Four victory on home ice. He also assisted on Kyle Palmieri’s game-tying goal during a delayed penalty. It was the center’s best game given the circumstances. He played a straight line game with the kind of grit he hasn’t shown. Barzal has goals in the last two games. He’s come alive at the right time for the Islanders. They’ll need that to continue when the series shifts to Boston for a pivotal Game Five.

Looking at how well Barzal played which included working over David Krejci with crosschecks until he snapped and speared the Isles’ most talented forward for a two-minute slashing minor (originally a major until reviewed), it’s clear that the play-making pivot listened to coach Barry Trotz. He shot the puck and got the end results the Isles needed. Prior to Game Three which saw him beat Tuukka Rask on a wraparound to force overtime, Barzal was quiet with only four assists this postseason. However, Trotz never wavered regarding his star pupil’s struggles. That confidence was rewarded.

Call it the Trotz Effect. The veteran NHL coach who guided the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup in 2018, has instilled the structure that makes the lesser talented Islanders successful. In three years coaching his third NHL team after good stints in Nashville and Washington DC, the Trotz’ led Islanders have made the playoffs all three seasons and won five series. That included last year’s run to the franchise’s first Conference Final since ’93. They lost to eventual Cup champ Tampa Bay in a hard fought six games. After finishing fourth in the East Division, they were underdogs against the Pens in the first round. But they wore down the division top seed by winning the last three games to advance in six. Sidney Crosby was held to one goal by the Brock Nelson line featuring Josh Bailey and Anthony Beauvillier. Along with Ilya Sorokin, Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock, they were the story.

“It’s like a boxer. You get hit enough, at some point you’re going to go down. That’s how you win fights. You’ve got to … win your battles to get free from people, and get to the inside. And that’s what playoff hockey is. As much as it is about skill, it’s as much about will,” explained Trotz about what playoff hockey is like. He emphasizes the hard checking style that Long Island fans identify with. With it being a four line team minus a true superstar, everyone plays.

That includes the Identity Line of Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck. A cohesive checking unit that was reformed three years ago when Team President and GM Lou Lamoriello acquired Martin from the Maple Leafs. Considering how hard he plays with the physical brand of hockey he provides, would the hexed Leafs like a do over on that one? It’s that kind of tenacity and grit that the Leafs are lacking. No wonder they haven’t advanced out of the first round since 2004. After blowing a three games to one lead against bitter rival Montreal, they’re up to 0-8 in elimination games. That includes 0 for 5 in Game Sevens. Former Islanders’ star center John Tavares chose to leave and play for his hometown team. Without him due to the scary incidental knee from Corey Perry, Toronto didn’t have enough to win. Both Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner had poor series. You wonder if the Leafs will ever get it right.

Lamoriello looks like a genius after leaving. Once he hired Trotz, who the Caps foolishly low balled, it changed how the Islanders are viewed. He’s proven that his defensive system works. Whether it’s the Barzal line that features Jordan Eberle and Leo Komarov, the Nelson line of Killer Bees, the Identity Line anchored by Cizikas, or the third line which has Jean-Gabriel Pageau centering Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac, the Islanders are a T-E-A-M. From the goal out with Semyon Varlamov leading the way after replacing Sorokin following an ineffective Game One, these Islanders are a tough team to beat. They win the battles in the trenches and finish every check.

On Saturday, they were the better team five-on-five thanks to their heavy forecheck. Barzal made it pay dividends by setting up Palmieri with a beautiful pass for a six-on-five goal after drawing a penalty to tie the game. A great response to a Krejci power play goal that stood up following an unsuccessful coach’s challenge from Trotz to see if Brad Marchand had interfered with Varlamov. His team got the all important penalty kill on Boston’s second consecutive power play to swing the momentum. With the crowd urging them on, they tied it up thanks to the strong skating and vision of Barzal. Once it was all even, you felt that the Isles would find a way to win the game. Had they not, it could’ve been the final game at Nassau Coliseum. Instead, they know there’ll be a Game Six this week. Will it be as a potential clincher like Round One or looking to force a Game Seven? That’ll depend on Monday night with Game Five in Beantown.

Even though goals have been hard to come by, it’s been compelling hockey. You have two evenly matched teams who play similar styles. Neither side passes up an opportunity to finish a check. The biggest hit was by Clutterbuck, who sounded shaken up after his clean hit injured Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo in Game Three. Carlo had to be helped off the ice. I’d be surprised if we saw him again this round. Especially given his recent history. He suffered a concussion following a vicious hit from Tom Wilson that led to seven-game suspension. In his place skated Jarred Tinordi yesterday. It’ll be interesting to see if the Bruins keep him in the lineup on Monday night.

Aside from the hard fought board battles for loose pucks we’ve seen, you even had a pair of fights in the first period of Game Four. In a surprise, Taylor Hall dropped the gloves with Scott Mayfield. It was only his second ever fight and first since 2011. The other scrap featured Matt Martin getting the better of Tinordi. The cheers during the scoreless period were loud. So was the animosity between the two clubs. It boiled over when Barzal got into it with Krejci. Continuing to work over the Bruins veteran center, he finally got the reaction when Krejci gave him a chop to the lower region. It easily could’ve remained a major. But they opted for a two minute penalty instead. Barzal was okay. He proved it by dominating shifts. It was fitting that he got the winner.

On a Noah Dobson pass, a Mayfield shot took a funny deflection. With nobody else able to find it, a cognizant Barzal spotted it and swung and connected with his best baseball swing to beat a stunned Rask with 7:03 left. It was just a terrific play by a good player. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget how skilled Barzal is. Better known for his superb skating and creative passing as evidenced when he found Palmieri for the tying goal in the second period, he also is capable of scoring goals. He did to force overtime on Thursday when he showed determination to stuff in a second attempt past Rask. For the Islanders to win the series, they will continue to need the kind of inspired play Barzal has provided over the last two games. He has two goals and a helper. That he also came back hard defensively and back checked shows maturity. He’s learning how to play winning hockey in the playoffs.

That’s the Trotz Effect. He has changed the way the Islanders play. They used to be a freewheeling, offense only team with little defense. That hung goalies out to dry. Under Trotz, the 18 skaters play hard. They have no choice. Either bring it or sit. In the past, the successful Cup winner hasn’t been shy about benching his best players. That’s included Barzal when he’s taken bad penalties or missed a defensive assignment. That’s how a good coach gets the attention of their team. By making everyone accountable.

Empty net goals from Pageau and Cizikas finished off the Bruins. Pageau was given the tough assignment of shutting down the Bergeron line that features Marchand and David Pastrnak. Pastrnak probably felt horrible after missing on a one-timer with a gaping net earlier in the game. Instead, he hit the far goalpost with Varlamov dead to rights. Sometimes, you need a break like that to prevail or a bounce. That definitely helped the Isles, who now visit TD Garden in the exact same scenario as the first round against Pittsburgh. In that series, they hung around and took Game Five and came back home and finished off the Pens. This time, they’re facing a better goalie in Rask, who has played brilliantly. He couldn’t have been better in Game Four. To put it mildly, he isn’t Tristan Jarry.

It won’t be easy tomorrow. Nor should it for the rest of this intriguing second round match-up. Whoever wins the East Final will earn it. Like Trotz said, it’ll be won in the trenches. A war on ice between two good hockey teams who won’t back down. Tom Petty would be proud.

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Sabres win Lottery, Rangers sign Nils Lundkvist, great hockey in second round, the clutch Marchand

Posted on June 5, 2021 by Derek
AP Photo via Getty Images

For those who care, they held the NHL Lottery on Thursday night. After dragging it out to the point of exhaustion thanks to all the wasted nonsense, they finally got down to who won.

The winner was again the Sabres. I guess losing has its perks. Even if this upcoming Draft isn’t expected to boast a can’t miss superstar like the past two drafts, the incompetence of Buffalo has been rewarded for the second time. They also won it in 2018 and took Rasmus Dahlin. They’ve also wound up with Sam Reinhart and disillusioned captain Jack Eichel, who sounds like he wants out. Can you blame him?

The expansion Seattle Kraken will pick second behind the Sabres. Is it right that they aren’t picking first over a dysfunctional franchise with bad ownership and virtually no plan? I feel the Kraken should’ve automatically been awarded the top pick. Then the other bottom feeders could pick behind them. Not like the NHL is logical. Oh well.

The Devils will pick fourth. If he’s available, I imagine Luke Hughes would be someone they’d have interest in. The younger brother of Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes is a highly rated defense prospect. Given the state of the New Jersey blue line, it would make sense to select him. It’ll depend on what the three teams decide ahead of them. Expect Matty Beniers to go in the top three. The American center played a key role on Team USA at the World Junior Championship where they won gold. He also had 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points in 24 games in his freshman year at Michigan. Owen Power ranks as the top North American skater. He’s a defenseman who put up 16 points (3-13-16) at Michigan his freshman year. He’s expected to go first to the Sabres. Other notable prospects to keep an eye on are Dylan Guenther, William Eklund, Kent Johnson, Simon Edvinsson and Mason McTavish.

The Rangers will pick 15th. No miracle this year. Good. I could care less about more prospects. They need to improve the roster and deliver on Garden CEO James Dolan’s playoffs or bust mantra. That means new Team President and GM Chris Drury must be aggressive this summer. If that means using the first round pick along with players to swing a deal for the edgy two-way forward they need, I’m all for it. There’s plenty of young players in the system. Not everyone will be Rangers. Especially on a back end that now should include former first round pick Nils Lundkvist, who finally signed his entry level contract the other day. If he makes the roster, he’ll join Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, K’Andre Miller, Zac Jones and Jacob Trouba. I’m curious to see if Libor Hajek will still have a role following a solid first full season.

One thing about the state of the Rangers on the back end is all the depth they possess. With most of it coming cheap for now, they’ll likely move on from lightning rod Tony DeAngelo. Even though I think his intensity was missed along with the offense he provides, there are more affordable alternatives. Especially if Lundkvist proves himself to be the good offensive D he’s been in Sweden. Plus with DeAngelo passing through irrevocable waivers, the buyout won’t cost much. He’ll be free to sign with another team if there’s interest. Hopefully, he gets another chance after what happened in the Big Apple. As far as the defensive depth, there’s also Tarmo Reunanen, Matthew Robertson and the hard nosed Braden Schneider, who looks to have a bright future. I’m most excited for his arrival. Lindgren and Trouba need help. The D got beat up. You can’t have that.

Moving on, there’s been some compelling hockey in the second round of the playoffs. You had a desperate Golden Knights pull out Game Three last night 3-2 in a crazy third period over the Avalanche to pull within two games to one in that West Final. After Mikko Rantanen scored on the power play to give Colorado the lead despite being largely outplayed, it looked like Philipp Grubauer would steal Game Three. But Jonathan Marchessault banked one in from behind the net to tie it and 45 seconds later, Max Pacioretty redirected a Nick Holden shot for the game-winner before a raucous environment at a capacity T-Mobile Arena. Following the predictable Game One Avalanche rout, that’s been a fun series. We’ll see if Vegas can draw even by holding serve tomorrow.

You also have what’s been a superb East Final between the Islanders and Bruins. Two evenly matched teams who boast four lines, good goalies and hit hard, the hockey has been intense. After Boston took Game One on the strength of a David Pastrnak hat trick, the Islanders responded by taking Game Two in overtime on a Casey Cizikas breakaway goal to gain home ice. However, the Bruins turned the tables in another back and forth Game Three before 12,000 screaming Islanders’ fans at Nassau Coliseum. For most of the game, Boston led on a first period goal from Craig Smith. They outplayed the Islanders and had a huge edge in shots and territorial play. But Semyon Varlamov’s goaltending kept his team in it. Following the second Bruins’ power play that didn’t produce, Mat Barzal finally scored his first goal of this postseason when he stuck with a wrap around by beating Tuukka Rask on the second try. Afterwards, it was all Isles. Anthony Beauvillier had a breakaway try, but Rask denied his backhand bid to help force a second consecutive overtime. Early on, it looked like the Islanders would end it. They got some good chances on Rask, who made two huge stops. On just an innocent looking play, Charlie McAvoy handed off for a changing Brad Marchand. The Rat skated with little room thanks to the checking of Jean-Gabriel Pageau. However, he still was able to get off a seeing eye shot from a tough angle that somehow beat Varlamov far side to give the Bruins a 2-1 win in sudden death. It was stunning. Boston leads the series 2-1 with a pivotal Game Four tonight on Long Island. That should be interesting.

In the other series that’s been closely fought, the Lightning bring a two games to one series lead into this afternoon’s Game Four at home. The strange part is the road team has won all three games of the Central Final. The Bolts took Game One thanks to a go-ahead goal from key depth center Barclay Goodrow to win 2-1. They doubled up their lead in Raleigh by edging a frustrated Hurricanes 2-1. As it turned out following an Alex Killorn turnaround goal from distance through traffic, Anthony Cirelli’s insurance marker proved large. Andrei Svechnikov cut it to one late. In Game Three, the Canes knew they had to win. Switching goalies with Petr Mrazek replacing rookie Alex Nedeljkovic, they got the game’s first two goals courtesy of Brett Pesce and Sebastian Aho. However, penalties allowed the lethal Tampa power play to tie it on goals from Brayden Point and Killorn. The game would require sudden death. In it, the Canes were able to set up a good Aho one-timer from the high slot after he moved into position. It beat Andrei Vasilevskiy at 5:57. Jordan Staal was in front. Replays later confirmed that the Carolina captain got a piece of the shot for the OT winner. It was his third overtime goal of his career. All coming with Carolina. He is now tied for the franchise lead. With Game Four looming large, we’ll see if Vincent Trocheck and Warren Foegle can go. If not, the Canes are running short on bodies. The Bolts are healthier. It should be interesting.

The only series that’s been disappointing is the North Final between the Canadiens and Jets. An ill advised hit from leader Mark Scheifele on Jake Evans that concussed him after he scored a rare wraparound empty netter, has badly hurt Winnipeg. Scheifele was suspended four games for what was ruled a charge and game misconduct by the officials. With the Habs hot following the unnecessary hit even though the principle point of contact wasn’t the head, the league made an example of Scheifele. A clean player who never had been suspended. So, he got four games while Vegas tough guy Ryan Reaves only served two games for intent to injure Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves during a 7-1 blowout loss. Reaves has gotten away with other cringe worthy behavior prior without paying the price. There’s no consistency from George Parros. That’s my issue. I don’t feel Scheifele deserved four games. I felt two would’ve been appropriate. Instead, he can only watch as his team looked punch less in a 1-0 shutout loss in Game Two before 500 Emergency Medical Workers in Winnipeg. The only goal was scored by Tyler Toffoli, who made a great move and beat Connor Hellebuyck for a nice shorthanded goal. Hellebuyck made some big stops to give the Jets a chance. But they could not beat Carey Price, who saved all 30 shots for his eighth career playoff shutout. His biggest coming with time to spare when he headed away a desperation Kyle Connor high riser off his mask to give Montreal the win. They now take a 2-0 series lead back to Bell Centre, which should be rocking. Even if it’s only limited to 2,500 fans, you saw what that crowd did for them in their overtime victory over the Maple Leafs in Game Six. With the Jets playing Pierre-Luc Dubois on their top line and having only scored three times on Price, does Paul Maurice have an answer? We’ll see.

Even though it’s tough without the Rangers, these playoffs have been very good so far. A lot of overtimes. Momentum swings. Heavy hits. Gigantic saves. Huge blocks. Clutch goals like the one Marchand scored to bail out his team when they looked on the ropes before that chaotic atmosphere the other day. Marchand has now scored three OT winners. He’s the definition of clutch. For all the gripes people have about his antics, The Rat 🐀 is a top five player. While he isn’t on the level of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl or Nathan MacKinnon, Marchand has the uncanny ability to make his teammates better. While Pastrnak and the ever clutch Patrice Bergeron receive all the accolades, it’s the play of Marchand that keeps opponents off balance. Not the biggest player, he’s a superb skater who has a knack for making the right play. Whether it be a key pass or shot, it’s Marchand that stirs the drink for the Bruins. It’s about time he gets proper credit for how good he is.

That’ll do it for this updated blog. It’s about time I posted some thoughts. P.S. NBC really sucks. Not having a few postgames after overtimes and shifting games to CNBC. The over promotion of the Olympics when not one hockey fan cares. The force-fed horse racing that’s so gambling driven. It’s nonsense. That Bruins/Islanders game won’t begin until 7:40 PM. False advertising. NBC pulled the same thing with those 12 noon games that usually didn’t drop until 12:25 PM. I’m glad they’re done. I won’t miss that network.

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Podcast: Derek on Monday’s great first round games, an observation plus a cool story

Posted on May 25, 2021 by Derek

In my latest podcast over on Spotify, I review a busy first round slate from Monday night that included the Isles edging the Pens in two overtimes along with the Jets finishing off the McDavid/Draisaitl Oilers in an epic triple overtime to sweep Edmonton.

What went wrong for the Oilers and Pens? Can Sidney Crosby rally Pittsburgh at what will be an electric Nassau Coliseum for Game Six? The brilliant play of rookie goalies Ilya Sorokin and Spencer Knight, who at 20 made a memorable playoff debut by stopping the last 36 shots he faced to force Game Six against the Lightning.

The laser focused Cam Talbot who stole Game Five for the Wild in Vegas. Plus some Leafs and Habs. A cool story from my Devils production truck days in ’00-01. How great Marc-Andre Fleury could become with another Cup.

Please take a listen by clicking the Anchor link. Or follow me on Spotify at DFlex’s Pushing Buttons.

DFlex’s Pushing Buttons

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